Houston Cougars vs Texas A&M Aggies Point Spread Picks

Texas A&M held Saint Mary's to 38% shooting to advance in a 63-50 win as an underdog, also forcing 18 turnovers. The Aggies are on a 9-7 run UNDER the total and rank 11th in the 16-team SEC from the free-throw line (73.6%). They face a powerhouse Houston defense that is 11th in the country in opponent shooting percentage (39.7%) and second in points allowed per game (62.4). They shut down Idaho, allowing 47 points on 29% shooting. Houston is on a 16-7 run UNDER the total. Play Texas A&M/Houston UNDER the total.

Houston manhandled Longwood 86-46 and the Lancers were held to 16 first-half points on 26.3 percent shooting. The Cougars easily covered as 24-point favorites and they are 4-1 ATS their past five games. Houston is 20-15 UNDER this season and that is not surprising as it allows only 56.7 points per game on 37.8 percent shooting and the Cougars have gone UNDER four of their past six games. But I see the scoring going a different direction today. The Aggies are 22-13 OVER on the season including 15-5 OVER in road games. In their last five games they have averaged 169.4 points per game. This season A&M is 18-8 OVER vs. winning teams and 9-1 OVER when facing teams like Houston that allow under 65 points per game. L.J. Cryer and Damian Dunn each scored 17 points on Friday and the Cougars shot 58 percent. Texas A&M downed Nebraska 98-83 as the Cornhuskers missed 12 of its final 13 first-half shots. The Cougars are 5-0-1 ATS after allowing fewer than 50 points their previous game. Take Houston and the OVER.

Texas A&M will bring a three-game winning streak with them to Houston, who suffered their first setback their last time on the floor. It was not a good one either as they were beaten by Prairie View A&M. The Cougars like to get out and run the floor or spread their opponent out on the offensive end, but they don't do a good job on the other end of the floor and it caught up with them against Prairie View. A&M has lost just once as well, and has had a much more difficult road to 5-1 than Houston. The Aggies have a lot more discipline and will be the best team the Cougars have faced all season. A&M plays both ends, and that will be the difference here. The Cougars have not been strong off a loss at 4-10 ATS in their last 14 when following a setback. A&M delivers the knockout punch often as a road team vs. a team with a winning home record at an impressive 47-22 ATS in their last 69. Texas A&M gets the call.